Tuesday’s inauguration of President Catherine Connolly paraded one of the essential elements of our democracy: after fiercely contested elections, all the political players come together to affirm not just the consent of the losers to the outcome, but a shared faith in the institutions on which rests the edifice of our political and public life.

The new President carried it all off with aplomb and assurance. She also served notice on the Government, solemnly ranged behind her on the dais in St Patrick’s Hall, that she will speak out as she sees fit on political and policy issues, referencing – for a start – neutrality, a right to housing, the Irish language, Irish unification and the failures of public services. If she follows through on that – as many of her voters certainly want her to – this will be a new front in Irish politics.

It will also be a rallying point for the parties of the left which, after the disappointment of seeing Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil return to power earlier this year, have been growing in clout and confidence – and in co-operation. There has been a tidal shift against the centre parties since they returned to Government, and momentum counts for a lot in politics.

But however much the parties of the left move closer to forming a combined alternative for government, and no matter what the new President says, the biggest challenge facing the........

© The Irish Times